Disintegrating ammunition link



NOV. 13, 1945. J ALTER DISINTEGRATING AMMUNITION LINK Filed Aug. 11, 1942 INVENTOR HORACE J. ALTER Patented Nov. 13, 1 945 UNITED STATES D-ISINTEGRATING AlWlVlUNITION LINK Application August 11, 1942, Serial No. 454,366

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved ammunition feeding link for cannon, and has special reference to the provision of greater flexibility between articulated links, and the automatic disintegration or uncoupling of empty links after the shell has been withdrawn therefrom by the gun mechanism.

The link of the present invention was designed to replace, and be interchangeable with, a pres.- ent type wherein fifteen links are riveted together and can bend between the links only in one direction from a plane surface such as the link guideways within the gun breech. Such permanently assembled links offer problems of disposal thereof and of recharging the cannon in inaccessible places as in airplane installations, since at present the cannon must be reloaded by the insertion of another clip of fifteen rounds when the first clip has been expended. In practice this limits the use of such a gun in the smaller fighting planes, to the initial clip as loaded prior to take-off; since otherwise a gunner would have to be provided to reload the cannon with a fresh clip.

The articulated, disintegrating link chosen to illustrate an embodiment of the invention was designed to fit the existing breech and cartridge feeding mechanism of a M4, 37 mm. automatic cannon. The normal cartridge feeding arrangements for this cannon limit it to clips of fifteen cartridges carried in individual links articulated to bend in one direction only, so that the fifteen cartridges are coiled into a removable magazine normally attached to the left side of the gun breech, and fed thereinto While suspended from the links, which latter slide in guideways extending across the gun breech in a plane above the bore of the barrel. The gun feeding mechanism forces one cartridge at a time from its link, and also feeds or advances the clip of articulated links to bring another link into position. When the fifteen rounds have been used the articulated links are discharged as a unit from the right side of the gun breech, and since they remain linked together and can only bend downwardly from the plane of the breech guideways therefor, the disposal and/or salvaging of the links becomes a serious problem in aircraft installations. In inaccessible or remotely controlled gun installations it thus becomes impossible to reload in flight and the gun is therefore limited to its initial loading of fifteen rounds.

The present invention consists of links for holding and feeding ammunition to a cannon, a series of these links being temporarily or releasably articulated together by the act of placing shells or cartridges in each link, each link being disconnected from the remainder thereof as the shells are removed therefrom during the normal operation of the gun or cannon. Thus any desired number of links can be assembled into a continuous articulated belt or clip which disintegrates as it passes through the gun breech. The individual links may therefore be guided away from the gun and either discharged overboard, or collected in a container, if space is available therefor.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a disintegrating articulated ammunition feeding belt of unrestricted length and wherein the individual links can be separated and then gathered in a smaller space or a more convenient receptacle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a disintegrating link belt wherein the links are releasably locked directly together by the insertion of the ammunition in the individual links, and released from each other by the removal of the ammunition, as in the normal operation of the gun.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified disintegrating articulated link belt which can be flexed in either direction to facilitate the placing of an increased supply of ammunition adjacent the feeding side of the gun.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure I is a side view of a pair of links embodying the features of this invention.

Figure II is a bottom view of the links of Figure I, "a fragmentary portion of a cartridge or shell being shown in position in one link to thereby lock th links together.

Figure III is a section On the line III-III of Figure I.

Figure IV is a disassembled perspective view of one link, to clearly bring out the features thereof.

As shown:

Each link, of which there may be any number assembled together, consists of a channel shaped cartridge retaining member comprising a base in conveniently formed of sheet metal, and having downturned legs I l and I2 on each side theretherefrom and out-turned flush with the base, these ears sliding in guideways associated with the gun breech, and being notched at I!) to be engaged by centering pins in the gun feeding mechanism. A central opening is also stamped Having thus described my invention and the present preferred embodiments thereof, I desire to emphasize the fact that many modifications may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A disintegrating ammunition belt including a first link and'a second-link; eac'h adapted to carry a shell, each link comprising a base member having a pair of substantially rigid outstand- "ing arms at each end formed to receive and posiout of the base Ill to be engagedby the feeding pawl of the gun mechanism.

A spring clip comprising a base 2| and side fingers 22 and 23 is secured, as by riveting or'spot welding, in the link member, the fingers engaging the sides of the cartridge shell to retain the same seatedagainst the arcuate web [6. Each finger has a small ear 2d struck inwardly from its-outer corner, and an opposite pair of these ears engage in a groove or channelure 25 formed in the shell or bullet, to properly locate the shell relative to the link. The right hand fingers 23 are deliberately weakened-and over-bent compared to the oppositefingers 22, in order that most of the spring movement, upon insertion of the shell, will occur therein. The fingers 23 are shown considerably narrower than the fingers 22 to be more yielding, the space or slot between tion a shell in the link, pins rigidly attached to the armsat one end of said base member, the arms at the other 'end of said base member having notches, said links being related so that the pins on the second link engage in the notches in the arms of 'the first link to constitute a pivotal connection between the links, a spring element attached to the base member of each link, each spring element having outstanding fingers adjacent said arms of the respective base member adapted for receiving'and releasably retaining a shell,- and'keepers formed on the fingers adjacent the notched armsof the base member of the respective link, the fingers of said first link which carry the keepers being constructed and arranged to-fiexiblyextend and move theirrespective keepers under the pins in the notches ofthe first link to prevent disengagement of said pins from the notches as long as the shell is retained in the first link, and to automatically the fingers 23 being considerably wider than the 7 slot between the fingers 22, These fingers 23 carrykeepers or dogs 25 which are adapted to engage under the pins l3 of the next link when a cartridge-or shell is forced into position in one link; When the shell is removed the fingers 23 spring back inand without the dogs 26 from under. the pins is of the next link thus releasing said pins from the notches l5 of the legs I2.

As the ammunition and links feed through the ,gun and a shell is pushed out of the spring'fingers'22 and 2-3 of one link the keepers or dogs 26, release'the pins of the preceding link and allow it to fall free by gravity and separate from the links still in the gun. In this manner, the entire length of the belt may be broken up into separate links which can be conveniently dis.- posed, of without special guide provisions other than a chute. r

- Inthe use of this type of articulated link it is convenient but not essential to provide a leading link having a special entering guide as indicated at H by the dotted outline. This facilitates initial entry into the gun mechanism.

In practical use these links may be fed in either direction, as-the shell may be inserted into th I symmetrical link pointing eitherway. If inserted nose. down in Figure II the feed would be to the right in. Figures I and II, and an empty link would be released as a shell was pushed out of the next link. In either case, the shell would be inserted with its groove 25 on the .nose side of the link in order to properly balance the shell suspended from the clip.

It will thus be seen that I-have invented an improved and simplified articulated ammunition link that isself-disintegrating, while entirely relievingthe ammunition from-feeding'and other strains incident to a long belt. 1 I A spring back when the shell is removed fromthe first link and thereby release the pins fromthe notches in the first link to allow the force of gravity'to disengagesaid second link from-said first link.

2. 'A disintegrating ammunition belt including a first link and a second link,'each adapted to carry a shell, each link comprising a base member having a pair of substantially rigid outstanding arms at each end formed to receive and position ashell in the link, pins rigidly attached to the arms at one end of said base member, the

arms at the other'end'of said base member havingnotches, said links being'related so that the pins on the second link: engage the notches in the arms of the first 'linkito constitute a pivotal connection betweeni the'links, a spring element-attaclied to the'ba'sei'member, of each-link, each spring element having outstandingfingers adjacent said'arms 'ofthe respective'base-member for;

receiving'and releasably'retaining-a shell, and keepers formed on the fingers adjacent the notched arms of the base member of the respec.-

tive link, the fingers which-bear the keepers'be'-.- ingof reduced cross section so that when a shell is inserted in the first link said fingersof that link are subjected to substantialfiexure soas to flexiblyextendand-n'iove the: keepers under the pins in the notches'of' that link topreventdis-v engagement of said' 'pins from the-notches as long as the'shell is retained in the first link, said 1 back when the shell is removed from the first link fingers of thefirst link being adapted to springand thereby automatically release the pinsfrom the notches in that link to allow the for ceof, gravity to disengage saidsecond link from said,

first link.

" 1 HORACE J. 

